Lauren Long / The Post-Standard 2008Runners take off at the start of the women's 5K during the 2008 Festival of Races.Syracuse, NY -- More than 3,000 people, representing 28 states and Canada, will run and walk in the 17th annual Syracuse Festival of Races in the Manley Field House area Sunday.

Participants and volunteers for the race are being asked to carpool in order to reduce traffic congestion.

The men’s 5K race begins at 9 a.m., followed by the women’s 5K at 9:45, the MVP Health Care 3K fun & fitness run at 10:45, the Fitness Forum/SOS joint replacement run and the community walk at 10:50.

The events start and finish on East Colvin Street, near Manley Field House.

Drivers who normally take East Colvin Street, Meadowbrook Drive, Lancaster Avenue or Buckingham Avenue are encouraged to use alternate routes from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Motorists on the city's East Side can avoid the course by using Comstock Avenue as a north-south route, and Euclid Avenue as an east-west route.

Drivers are also encouraged to use Crawford Avenue, one block east of Meadowbrook Drive, to travel between Euclid Avenue and Nottingham Road from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m.

Parking for the event is available at the Manley Field House lots, the Syracuse University Women’s Building lots off Comstock Avenue and Stratford Street and the Hookway lot on the north side of East Colvin Street, just east of the field house.